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Barbados Seal of Colony stamps in Universal Colour Scheme: 1909-1910

In 1908, the Crown Agents suggested a universal colour scheme for general use in connection with British Colonial postage stamps, and this introduced the use of coloured paper for eight different denominations using yellow, blue, green or red paper.

Barbados decided to adopt the new colour scheme and on April 20th, 1909, the Crown Agents notified the printers of the decision. On that same day, the Crown Agents forwarded a requisition to the printers for One Farthing, Half¬penny, One Penny, Two Pence halfpenny, and Six Pence stamps. Under the new colour scheme the colour of the One Farthing and Six Pence stamps was com¬pletely changed, while there was only minor alteration to the shade of the other three values. These stamps were printed under Requisition No. 24/09 and the stamps were invoiced on June 23rd, 1909, and despatched to the Colony. The three lower values were put on sale in July 1909, but the Two Pence halfpenny and the Six Pence stamps were not issued until sometime in 1910, but the actual date has not been recorded.

On March 22nd, 1910, the Crown Agents forwarded another requisition to the printers for a reprint of the same five values, and also for two new values, viz. Two Pence and One Shilling. The colour of the Two Pence stamps had to be changed to greyish slate, while the new denomination of One Shilling was printed on paper coloured green to conform with the colour scheme. These seven denom- imations were printed under Requisition No. 22/10 and were invoiced on July 7th, 1910, and despatched to the Colony. The Two Pence and One Shilling stamps were released for the first time in August 1910.

Details of the quantity printed and sent out to the Colony are shown in the tables below.

¼d. Brown (SG 163)

Reqn No.

Invoice date

Qty

Notes

24/09

23/06/09

122 400

22/10

07/07/10

200 880

45/11

03/08/11

100 680

62/11

15/05/12

61 080

Total:

485 040

½d. Blue-Green (SG 164)

Reqn No.

Invoice date

Qty

Notes

24/09

23/06/09

510 480

22/10

07/07/10

605 280

45/11

03/08/11

244 440

Total:

1 360 200

1d. Red (SG 165)

Reqn No.

Invoice date

Qty

Notes

24/09

23/06/09

1 008 000

22/10

07/07/10

614 880

45/11

03/08/11

300 600

Total:

1 923 480

2d. Greyish Slate (SG 166)

Reqn No.

Invoice date

Qty

Notes

22/10

07/07/10

24 960

Total:

24 960

2½d. Bright Blue (SG 167)

Reqn No.

Invoice date

Qty

Notes

24/09

23/06/09

241 440

22/10

07/07/10

243 120

45/11

03/08/11

120 720

Total:

605 280

6d. Dull & Bright Purple (SG 168)

Reqn No.

Invoice date

Qty

Notes

24/09

23/06/09

10 320

22/10

07/07/10

24 960

Total:

35 280

1s. Black on Green paper (SG 169)

Reqn No.

Invoice date

Qty

Notes

22/10

07/07/10

24 960

Total:

24 960

Specimen stamps

Under Requisition No. 24/09, an additional 413 stamps of the One Farthing, One Penny and Six Pence values were printed, and these were overprinted SPECIMEN for distribution to members of the Universal Postal Union.

Under Requisition No. 22/10, an additional 413 stamps of the Two Pence and One Shilling values were printed, and these were overprinted SPECIMEN for distribution to members of the Universal Postal Union.

No Specimens were printed of the Halfpenny and Two Pence halfpenny stamps, as the change in colour of these two values was not considered to be of sufficient significance to warrant this.